Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-06-16
Helena, Montana, Thursday, June 16, 1887.

lore ne got through WITH en-
That same afternoon a queer-looking and
very short procession came down the gulch,
winding among the rocks and trees and
bitches and sluices, and piles of dirt out OF
the shafts and tunnels which pierced the
mountain side in almost every direction.
This little party picked its way slowly down
the gulch and then into the main street OF
Golden Sand Camp, SO that The loungers in
front of the First Chance saloon-which was
also the Last Chance if you took the other
view-could see who and what 1t was.
1t was headed by woman, pale and
fright ened, and little boy, both seated on
sorry-looking mule, which seemed to be
continually propounding the old inquiry as
to whether or not life was worth living.
And just behind, carrying year-old baby
as carefully as any mother ever carried her
child, walked Doc Reynolds.
He looked dirty and haggard, as if he had
slept in thickets and had nothing to eat since
he left Golden Sand
They went along until they came to a side
street which ran a little ways up the hill,
when REYNOLDS took the lead and went straight
to Judge Potts house, he being the only mar
ried man whose wife was with him who lived
in the camp.
He helped the woman and child to dis
mount and they went in, being made welcome
by the motherly Mrs. Pott. Reynolds laid the
baby on the bed and stood bending over it.
All the men in the camp hocked around the
door or came into the one square room OF the
Judges residence. The woman sank into
chair, too much exhausted to rise. To Mrs.
Potts inquiries she said, as she looked around
at the strange faces with startled, almost
wild look:
"There were two wagons in our party, and
when we were going through a little park
about twenty miles from here, we were at
tackled by the Indians and the whole party
killed except the baby and the little boy and
me. We crept away into the bushes after it
was dark My husband and the other chill
dren were all killed, and we were all wound
ed, and the baby is very weak, though he is
sleeping now We would have all died if
this man had not found US and brought us
here. We came the whole distance today, and
he carried the baby. Oh" she added, as she
turned toward Reynolds, ''you are very kind
and I can't tell YOU how thankful am"
The poor woman buried her face in her
hands. Reynolds leaned over and just touch
de his lips to the babys cheek and said, as he
stepped back:
'The baby is dead
"The baby deadn cried the woman as she
sprang towards it. mo, it can't be, ii can't
be ! can't let him go too
"Yes," replied Reynolds, "the baby is
dead-he died very peacefully, like my baby
died five sears ago today" .-sss~--z-z.
He started to 60, then turned and threw two
bright twenty-dollar gold pieces on the bed
beside the woman and said;
That's all I've got-if had more you
should have it," Then he went out
"Hold on" said Judge Pott, ''where you
goin p
''Going to leave the camp"
''But we want ye to stay" interposed
Lem Upton.
mo, / am gong-my orders were to so
and not come back"
That's all right, but we want ye to stay
now. Amt that right, boys ?"
'Yes," they said almost unanimously.
II can't help tim not good enough for
this camp"
And he walked away down the gulch and
along the dusty stage road till he was lost to
view where the uail wound around Sentinel
Rocks.
So this is the way Doc Reynolds left
Golden Sand Camp for the last time.
And to this day his fate is fruitful theme
for conversation among those who knew him
in the Camp. Judge Pott claims that he
knows he returned to the states, changed his
name, became an honored citizen and is now
in Congress. Bill Hauser claims that he saw
him in Helena dealing hazard as calmly as
of old. Lem Upton is Of the opinion that he
was killed bv the Indians before he got out
of the country. Jim Harri gan says he can
prove that he went 10 Leadville, and while
there want up on the mountain side and
nursed brother gambler through an attack
Of the smallpox, took the disease himself and
died alqle.
But none have ever proved their statements
to the satisfaction of the others, and all that Is
known is that Doc Reynolds went down the
dusty stage road away from Golden Sand
Camp and never came back.